Week 12 Start Em’ & Sit Em’

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I’m nestled down in sunny New Mexico with the Mrs. and her family for a cabin trip in the mountains. I hope if you are travelling, or have friends and family traveling to you, that you and yours are blessed with safe travels.

This week there are no byes (YAY!) and 3 early games being played on Thanksgiving. Checking your lineup today becomes that much more important. Also keep in mind that this means there are less games on Sunday. The issue here would be if you had a player playing in a late game on Sunday or the Monday night game who has injury questions, there might not be as many replacement options for you to choose from.  You might be forced to make some uncomfortable lineup changes or roll with fingers crossed that your injured players can give it a go. Okay, on to this week’s start and sit recommendations. Like the Halloween column, this will be a themed issue. Everyone knows that point in a Thanksgiving meal where you clearly have had too much to eat but you keep on going. In these cases, you might just want to say no thanks….

YEAH… I’LL HAVE SECONDS:

Andy Dalton: Dalton started the season hot, then had a four week lull that may have caused some owners to move on from him or bench him. Well, he has rebounded very nicely the past two week and is clicking with his receivers. This week he gets to face an Oakland secondary that has been very generous the past three weeks. Start with confidence.

Colin Kaepernick: I will admit I was wrong last week about Kaepernick. I listed him, along with all of the other filler QBs, as a sit primarily because of his matchup against the best defense in the NFL. I did think there was slight potential for a decent game based on his running ability. Well he didn’t run very much at all, and instead threw the ball pretty much anywhere he wanted. I am listing him as a start based on early reports that he is likely to play again this week. If he can do what he did against the Bears, then he should be able to replicate that performance against the lowly Saints defense.

If Kaepernick Doesn’t Start: I’ll name a replacement in case Alex Smith gets the nod. Carson Palmer has thrown on everyone all year long. Even with a mediocre matchup, they still should throw a ton.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis: I have tried to stay away from the Law Firm lately as he always seems to burn me. However, he has managed 2 start-worthy performances in his last three games and he gets the Raiders who seem not to try defending runs until the RB gets 3 or 4 yards. Dalton’s improved play has also given GJGE some room to run.

Marcel Reece: Keep riding the wave, keep riding.

Trent Richardson: TRich finds himself buried in projections and rankings because he faces Pittsburgh this week. How can you sit him though? Even if he doesn’t get too much going in the run game, he’s Cleveland’s receptions leader.

Randall Cobb: I feel like I am on a campaign for Cobb. How long will he have to put up top-10 numbers before he starts getting ranked above Jordy Nelson?

Sidney Rice: He keeps finding the end zone. While Miami has been much better against WRs of late, they still are a favorable matchup.

Michael Crabtree: Crabtree also has made it a habit of scoring as of late. Add to that fact that he has a great matchup and a QB who doesn’t seem to have to play with training wheels and I’m very high on Crabtree this week. The yardage was lacking last week, but the Bears do have amazing corners.

Aaron Hernandez: The Patriots are probably glad they have taken the ultra-conservative route with Hernandez’s injury the last few weeks now that Rob Gronkowski is out for 4-8 weeks. Reports are that Hernandez will go this week, and should see plenty of targets as the main receiving TE.

Owen Daniels: I stayed away in his first week back from injury, but I think it will be safe to start him this week against Detroit who tends to struggle against opposing TEs.

Panthers D/ST: The Eagles generous ways continued with Nick Foles at the helm. Carolina has had a few big weeks throughout the season, and I think this might be another one.

NO MORE…. PLEASE NO MORE:

Eli Manning: Eli has played poorly enough that you might need some proof to trust him again. I do think that Eli will be a top-10 QB down the stretch. However, I don’t know that it will come this week against Green Bay. Better to wait a week unless you don’t have an option.

Josh Freeman: It might be hard to sit a QB who has been on such a roll lately, but Atlanta’s defense can change things. They are a top-10 defense against QBs this year.

Alfred Morris: Alf hasn’t found the endzone in three weeks. While he started playing on 3rd downs this past week, he hasn’t demonstrated that he has great hands yet. Dallas isn’t the best matchup for Morris, and while he won’t be an absolute dud for you he might need a TD to cross from the mediocre option to a “glad I started him” play.

Ahmad Bradshaw: Bradshaw is still dealing with some nagging injuries and has lost goal-line duties to Andre Brown. That’s just not a good recipe for success when you are facing Green Bay.

Beanie Wells: Wells has had a ton of attention from owners knowing that he would be coming back this week. I’ve heard a ton of chatter and excitement about his return. I’m not sure why though. He has a horrible schedule for the rest of the season (this week might be his best matchup) and his QB situation has somehow gotten even worse than it was when he was hurt. It’s not like he has big play ability. In his first week back from injury I’ll pass. In fact, I’ll pass for the rest of the season.

Darrius Heyward-Bey: While I like Carson Palmer this week, DHB has yet to eclipse 100 yards in a game this year.

Larry Fitzgerald: It pains me to put Fitzgerald here. I’m a big fan, and he might be the most talented WR in the NFL. When you’re looking at having John Skelton or Ryan Lindley throwing you the ball though, that’s pretty rough. On another note, I wouldn’t let him go in a keeper league just yet. The Cardinals have to address the QB spot this offseason. Whether it is a rookie or a free agent, just about anything has to be better than what he’s got now.

DeSean Jackson: As long as Foles is at the helm, I’m not sure I can trust an Eagles WR. At least you’d have to see a good game first at this point.

Dustin Keller: I wouldn’t expect Keller to burn the Patriots again.

Brandon Pettigrew: Pettigrew has been a big disappointment this year after being very useful last year. Maybe it’s related to Stafford’s struggles, or maybe he has just regressed. Regardless, that tough Houston defense doesn’t look like fun. They’ll probably be amped up after getting torched by Jacksonville last week.

Giants D/ST: Aaron Rodgers =  no thanks.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Last Week’s Results: Season Totals in Parentheses

Starts: 6-5, .545 (52-69, .429)

Andrew Luck: 17pts = W, Cam Newton: 20pts = W, Marcel Reece: 19pts = W, Felix Jones: 11pts = W, Daniel Thomas: 3pts = L, Stevie Johnson: 7pts = L, Randall Cobb: 14pts = W, Miles Austin: 5pts = L, Antonio Gates: 1pt = L, Brent Celek: 4pts = L, Cincinnati D/ST: 11pts = W

Sits: 5-6, .454 (74-47, .611)

Joe Flacco: 6pts= W, Filler QBs: 22pts (Kaepernick) = L, Mikel Leshoure: 14pts = L, Ballard/Brown: 7/1pts = W, Michael Turner: 10pts = L, Vincent Jackson: 17pts = L, Michael Crabtree: 9pts = W, Dwayne Bowe: 0pts = W, Vernon Davis: 14pts = L, Joel Dreessen: 2pts = W, Packers D/ST: 18pts = L

This week’s 11-11 mark puts me at 126-116 (.520) for the season.